Connect with us

Published

on

Steve Coogan and Carol Vorderman have publicly lent their support to the Liberal Democrats as the party conference kicks off with a call for electoral reform and tactical voting.

Statistics from the party said the Conservatives now have 56% of seats in the Commons, despite only receiving 44% of total vote share at the last election.

Lib Dem parliamentary representation in the Commons amounts to a mere 1.6%, even though they secured 11.6% of the vote.

Read more: Four stunning by-election wins have buoyed the Lib Dems – analysis

The party has long called for the current “first past the post” system to be scrapped and be replaced with “proportional representation” – where the percentage of the votes a party gets across the country determines the number of MPs they send to parliament.

And now they have celebrity backing, with actor and comedian Mr Coogan using a video message played at a conference rally in Bournemouth to say the current electoral process “robs millions of people of their vote” and “millions of people’s voices go unheard”.

 Steve Coogan speaking to the Lib Dem conference
Image:
Steve Coogan speaking to the Lib Dem conference

Ms Vorderman – best known for her time on Countdown – agreed with the need for change in her own video message to the gathering, saying: “We desperately need to end a system where only marginal seats matter, end a system which delivers parliaments that fail to accurately reflect votes cast and end a system where only the winner’s votes count.

More on Liberal Democrats

“It doesn’t deliver parliaments that properly reflect the will of the nation.”

But to be able to make that change, both stars called for the public to be tactical in how they used their votes when the next national ballot comes.

Ms Vorderman said it was “absolutely vital that we come together to defeat the Tories”, adding tactical voting on a seat by seat basis was “the first step” towards change.

Carol Vorderman addressing the Lib Dem conference
Image:
Carol Vorderman addressing the Lib Dem conference

And while admitting he normally votes Labour and was not a member of the Lib Dems “despite the beard and the fleece”, Mr Coogan added: “Where I live in Lewes, the candidate best placed to kick the Tories out is the Lib Dem candidate, so I’ll vote for them.”

Read more:
Lib Dems gear up for ‘celebratory’ conference – but can they keep up the momentum?
Ten conference moments that made headlines

Speaking to Sky News in the run up to conference, Lib Dem MP Labour Moran said proportional representation would be “on the agenda” as the party “hasn’t lost its roots”.

But critics of the system say it could allow more fringe parties with extreme views to get seats in the Commons.

At the rally, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey – who will appear on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips today – closed proceedings with the party’s giant clock, which it used to hammer home its message that “time’s up” Tories after its successful local election results in May.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sir Ed Davey celebrated in Windsor last May after his party snatched control of the local council from the Tories.

He told the gathered MPs, councillors and activists: “While the Conservatives have counted the last four years in fines for partying during COVID, in scandal upon scandal, in the prime ministers that have left in disgrace and the lettuces that outlast them, we actually have something to be proud of.

“We can count our four years with by-election victory after by-election victory, with making history with the size of the majorities we’ve overturned and with our stunning local election success. “

He added: “This government is living on borrowed time. We know it. They know it. And when they finally decide to call time on so many years of shambles and sleaze, the Liberal Democrats will be ready.”

Keep up to date with all of the news from the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth on Sky News via both TV and online.

Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips

Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips

Watch live each week on Sunday at 8:30am on Sky channel 501, Freeview 233, Virgin 602, the Sky News website and app or YouTube.

Tap here for more

Continue Reading

Politics

MP Zarah Sultana who was ousted from Labour announces she is starting new political party with Jeremy Corbyn

Published

on

By

MP Zarah Sultana who was ousted from Labour announces she is starting new political party with Jeremy Corbyn

An MP who was ousted from the Labour Party has announced she is setting up a new political party with Jeremy Corbyn.

Independent MP Zarah Sultana said she and the former Labour leader will co-lead the new party, which she did not provide a name for.

She said other independent MPs, campaigners and activists from across the country will join them, but did not name anyone.

Politics latest: Zarah Sultana’s stinging resignation letter

Ms Sultana also said she was “resigning” from the Labour Party after 14 years.

She was suspended as a Labour MP shortly after they came to power last summer for voting against the government maintaining the two-child benefit cap.

Several others from the left of the party, including Mr Corbyn, were also suspended for voting against the government, and also remained as independent MPs.

More on Jeremy Corbyn

However, Ms Sultana was still a member of the Labour Party – until now.

Zarah Sultana

Mr Corbyn has previously said the independent MPs who were suspended from Labour would “come together” to provide an “alternative.

The other four are: Iqbal Mohamed, Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan and Adnan Hussain.

Mr Corbyn and the other four independents have not said if they are part of the new party Ms Sultana announced.

In her announcement, Ms Sultana said she would vote to abolish the two-child benefit cap again and also voted against scrapping the winter fuel payment for most pensioners.

Ms Sultana also voted against the government’s welfare bill this week, which was heavily watered down as Sir Keir Starmer tried to prevent a major rebellion from his own MPs.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Protesters block Israeli arms manufacturer in Bristol

On Wednesday, Ms Sultana spoke passionately against Palestine Action being proscribed as a terror organisation – but MPs eventually voted for it to be.

She said to proscribe it is “a deliberate distortion of the law to chill dissent, criminalise solidarity and suppress the truth”.

Ms Sultana said they were founding the new party because “Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper – just 50 families now own more wealth than half the UK population”.

She called Reform leader Nigel Farage “a billionaire-backed grifter” leading the polls “because Labour has completely failed to improve people’s lives.

Reform leader Nigel Farage attending day three of Royal Ascot.
Pic: PA
Image:
Ms Sultana called Nigel Farage a ‘billionaire-backed grifter’. Pic: PA

The MP, who has spoken passionately about Gaza, added: “Across the political establishment, from Farage to Starmer, they smear people of conscience trying to stop a genocide in Gaza as terrorists.

“But the truth is clear: this government is an active participant in genocide. And the British people oppose it.

“We are not going to take this anymore.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “In just 12 months, this Labour government has boosted wages, delivered an extra four million NHS appointments, opened 750 free breakfast clubs, secured three trade deals and four interest rate cuts lowering mortgage payments for millions.

“Only Labour can deliver the change needed to renew Britain.”

Continue Reading

Politics

Tornado Cash co-founder keeps testimony plans unclear ahead of trial

Published

on

By

Tornado Cash co-founder keeps testimony plans unclear ahead of trial

Tornado Cash co-founder keeps testimony plans unclear ahead of trial

Roman Storm is scheduled to appear in a New York courtroom for his criminal trial on July 14, facing money laundering and conspiracy charges.

Continue Reading

Politics

US Senator Cynthia Lummis drafts standalone crypto tax bill

Published

on

By

US Senator Cynthia Lummis drafts standalone crypto tax bill

US Senator Cynthia Lummis drafts standalone crypto tax bill

The Wyoming Senator seeks to end double taxation and add clarity to the tax treatment of crypto staking, mining, and lending transactions.

Continue Reading

Trending